Chapter 9

Hi everybody, not done much writing this past 2 weeks. Been watching Wimbledon. Once again I thank you all for your lovely reviews. Without them I don't suppose I would continue. But don't panic, I will finish this story. I can't leave it unfinished.

Julie spent most of Monday in her room, after having purloined, temporarily, the map she found in one of Adam's desk drawers in his room. A Godsend. A detailed map of the Ponderosa with lots of marked out areas, including all the line shacks. She traced it as best she could onto some thin paper she had found there in his room. Oh, how mad he will be, she thought, if he knew I'd been snooping in his room. The copied map turned out to be very good.

She started preparing for her travels that night. She had found a burlap sack Hop Sing had thrown out and had started filling it with goods she knew she would need. Mostly apples, that no one would notice going down in the bowl on the low table in front of the fire and even if they did she would just say she had been eating them.

Julie had written a letter to Adam explaining her need to leave and one to Ben, Hoss and Joe, thanking them for all they had done for her and apologizing for her running off without telling them. She knew she'd have a fight on her hands, and this was her way of avoiding that. ….

The following morning everyone was in time for Hop Sing's breakfast, including Julie, who ate her fill, much to Adam's delight. Hop Sing had left earlier, on his horse, for Virginia City, saying he needed special herbs for the dinner he was planning that evening. More good news for Julie.

"Looks like your appetite has returned with a vengeance," he stated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eat so much."

"Apology not necessary, my dear," Ben said. "Just happy to see you eating so well."

"Pa," Joe spoke up, changing the subject. He'd been studying a paper at the table.

"Yes, son."

"This is a long list of jobs needing doin'."

"How long a list?" Hoss moaned, raising his head and looking worried.

"Son, I'm not expecting everything to be done on the list. It's for Joe to make the decisions of prioritizing which jobs need doing first. Just do what you can boys, we'll tackle what's left on our return."

"And don't leave the hardest jobs for us to do," Adam stated, giving Joe his one raised eyebrow stare in warning.

"They'll have me to help out where I can," Julie announced, hopefully putting their minds at ease that she was staying.

Breakfast was had by all, and Ben and Adam were outside organizing the wagon ready for their trip. Inside Joe was sitting at Ben's desk with Hoss and Julie standing at the desk facing him like two errant children awaiting their punishment.

"May I make a suggestion?" Julie asked.

"You may," Joe replied, in a manner his Pa would have done.

"Well, I was just thinking, are there some things on the list that are near the house that I could do, as I don't know the area very well. It's probably better I stay closer to the house."

"That's good thinkin' Julie," Hoss praised. "Now come on Joe, tell us what you want us to do."

"Well, first off, how are you with a paint brush, Julie?"

"Okay, I guess. Why?"

"The outhouse needs repainting."

"Fine, that's not too big a job. Is there something else I can add to that?"

"Yep, there is. The chicken coup needs a clear out and refreshed with clean straw, and of course collecting the eggs for Hop Sing."

"That sounds like my area too. Yes, I can do it," she said. Oh, how ill she felt inside telling all these lies.

"Good, that just leaves Hoss…" But before Joe could continue the front door opened.

Adam entered, saying "we're ready to go and…." He suddenly stopped and chuckled when he saw Joe, 'the Boss' sitting in Ben's chair. "Really getting into the role of 'Boss' I see. Well, here's $100 in case something crops up," he said, handing over the money to Joe.

"Thanks, Adam," he said, with a big grin on his face.

Then they all went outside to see Ben and Adam off to Carson City.

"Have a good trip, Pa," Joe called just as they headed out, "and don't worry about a thing. We'll be fine. Bye now."

Hoss and Julie waved until they were out of sight. Seeing Adam leaving, Julie had to hold herself firm, trying her best not to cry. Plenty of time for that later, she thought.

"So," Joe said. "Now you work."

"Oh yeah," says Hoss, "and you just sit and watch? I don't think so."

"And what, may I ask, are YOU planning on doing, Joe," Julie added.

"You've already got your orders, Julie, so you can get started. Hoss and me will be some way from the house. We have some fencing to fix."

Hoss and Julie both stared astonished at Joe.

"Yeah, that's right, BOTH of us. Hoss did you really think I was going to sit and watch you both working, like you said?"

"Well, it did cross my mind."

"Julie, you know where the paint is," Joe asked.

"Somewhere in the barn I assume," she sarcastically answered.

"Yep, right next to the tack room door."

"Fine. I'll get right on it." And Julie did just that. She walked into the barn for the paint and brush, while Joe and Hoss organized the small wagon with the supplies they needed.

Julie came out of the barn just as the boys were ready to leave.

"See you at dinner," Hoss told her.

"Or sooner, if we finish the job earlier," Joe added.

"Okay, see you later," Julie said. "I'm just going in the house to change into something more suitable, as I'm bound to make a mess."

"Okay," Hoss called as they were leaving, and waved.

Julie just stood there, holding herself together, trying not to cry. And when they were clearly out of sight, she went into the house to change, got into her own clothes, the ones she was wearing when Adam first encountered her. Although Ben and Adam had bought her some extra clothes, she knew she couldn't take advantage of their generosity, so the clothes had to be left behind. She made one last visit to Adam's room. She did take a little something that belonged to Adam - a handkerchief. Did this make her a thief? Perhaps she'll be forgiven. She returned the map to the desk drawer and placed her letter to him on the top of his desk having left Ben's letter on his desk downstairs.

Fifteen minutes later she was ready to leave. "Goodbye Ponderosa," she whispered. "Thank you for everything." She opened the front door, turned, kissed her fingers and blew that kiss across the great room, turned and walked out of the house.